Superficial Record article omits discussion of Sheriff DAVID SHOAR's unsuccessful endorsements and the reasons why reformers Nancy Shaver and Maggie Kostka defeated SHOAR's candidates, dark money, PACs and meddling in small city elections, factionalism, corruption, no-bid contracts, environmental issues, ethics, procedures, SLAPP suits, government threats to First Amendment rights, developers' demolition derby, maladroit city management.
And on the defeat of angry ANDREA SAMUELS, it sounds more like hagiography than journalism -- St. Augustine Beach City Commmissioner SAMUELS was rightly defeated by voters tired of her meanness, incivility and other-directsdness.
No one was interviewed who is not an elected official. Not one citizen. Not one government professor. How vapid.
In the words of FBI Assistant Director Mark Felt (played by Hal Holbrook in All the President's Men), "I hate shallowness."
Enough
Posted November 13, 2016 12:03 am
Commissioners in St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach look ahead after election night
By SHELDON GARDNER sheldon.gardner@staugustine.com
The city commission in St. Augustine will enjoy at least two years with a set of familiar names and faces, while their counterparts in St. Augustine Beach welcome a new colleague and perhaps a changed dynamic.
While commissioners from both cities had mixed feelings about what the future might hold, they mentioned similar big issues facing their cities such as managing the effects of growth.
In St. Augustine, all three incumbents retained their seats, including the mayor.
Voters chose a new commissioner in St. Augustine Beach on election night as Maggie Kostka defeated incumbent Andrea Samuels. In the other beach race, Mayor Rich O’Brien kept his seat.
St. Augustine Beach Vice Mayor Undine George said Kostka’s presence at the table could inspire the commission to be more welcoming, and she believes Kostka will bring data to the commission’s discussions.
“I think Maggie has a lot of positive energy and a lot [of] enthusiasm, so I really look forward to working with her … I really think we’re going to get through some tough issues,” she said.
Part of Kostka’s campaign, which George supported, focused on civility.
“We’re going to have an environment that’s going to be more receptive to debate, more receptive to public comment and hopefully, overall, just a welcoming environment,” George said.
That hasn’t been the case at times.
“It is absolutely true that it has not been as welcoming of an environment as it could be,” George said.
Kostka said she’s not opposed to disagreement but discussions can be more civil. And she said while the commission was already improving public input, she wants to focus on that work.
“I would like to continue to involve the public and hear their opinions and welcome their opinions in their own government,” she said. “And I think the commission is a place where it seems as though they are receptive to that also.”
Some don’t think having a new face on the commission will make a big difference.
O’Brien said that though he’s used to working with Samuels, he’ll always try to work with any commissioner.
“I don’t see much of a change because I believe what all of us have done is put the people first … [regardless] of who’s on the commission, we’re going to do the people’s work.”
Commissioner Margaret England called Samuels’ departure from the commission “painful” but said commissioners will welcome Kostka.
“We’ve got a lot to do, but we work well together and we will keep doing that,” England said.
Commissioner Gary Snodgrass also said Samuels will be missed but he said he looks forward to Kostka’s input.
“Going forward, we need to address myriad issues,” Snodgrass said.
Among those issues for the beach are managing growth, supporting beach renourishment, revamping a controversial sign ordinance and hashing out parking problems.
Issues are similar in the city of St. Augustine, where much attention is being placed on traffic and parking and infrastructure upgrades, in addition to hurricane recovery.
Commissioners in St. Augustine have had tense exchanges over some items at the table.
Despite those issues, commissioners have often agreed when it comes to votes, said Mayor Nancy Shaver. And, she said, democracy has disagreements.
Some of the conflicts have come from different styles in communicating, she indicated. She said she thinks the commission will continue to work well together.
Shaver said it’s important going forward to her that the commission maintain civility and decency and believes that’s important to other commissioners, as well.
“I think we’ve made recently some good progress in being able to be civil and disagree, and I hope that continues,” Shaver said.
Commissioner Leanna Freeman said the results from Tuesday night represent people’s trust in the city’s current representation and direction.
“I felt like it was a vote of support,” she said.
Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Kline, who was not up for re-election in 2016, said voters may have overlooked some of the friction in the past because of the things the commission has accomplished, and she said the commission has worked together effectively.
“It may be a little polarizing,” she said, “but it’s not crippling.”
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